City Council voted Tuesday night to authorize bond financing for $7.9 million in electric system projects, $3 million for general governmental projects and $2 million for school projects.
The electric system projects include $5.9 million for purchase of electric transformers and $2 million for upgrades at electric substations.
The general government projects include nearly $1.3 million for road improvements, $331,000 for parks and recreation enhancements, $300,000 for fire equipment, $284,000 for heating and air conditioning upgrades, $250,000 for roof replacements and $200,000 for storm water improvements.
These projects were included in the capital improvements budget adopted earlier this year by City Council.
In addition to bond financing for these projects, City Council authorized refinancing of $7.1 million in debt remaining from bonds issued in 2010 and 2012. The refinancing would take advantage of lower interest rates today.
In other matters last night, City Council voted to:
- adopt a resolution urging President Trump and Congress to ensure adoption of tax reform would not negatively impact Danville. The U.S. House last week passed a tax plan that could eliminate the Build America Bonds program. The program provides a deeper federal subsidy to state and local governments than traditional tax-exempt bonds. If eliminated, the City of Danville would have to pay $175 million over 25 years for power-related projects.
- table a lease agreement for fixed base operator services with General Aviation.
- adopt a resolution endorsing the continuation of the Dan River trail system from the fire training center on Stinson Drive to Danville Regional Airport.
- adopt a resolution requesting the Commonwealth Transportation Board establish a project for the continuation of the Dan River Trail System from Danville Regional Airport along the east side of Airport Drive to U.S. 58.
- allow the Industrial Development Authority to act as conduit for bond refinancing benefitting Averett University.
- adopt a resolution authorizing the use of fiscal year 2018’s debt capacity.
In addition to these votes, City Council held a first reading on the use of federal and state funding for design services to rehabilitate the terminal apron at Danville Regional Airport. The apron area in front of the terminal building and hangars was shown as fair to poor condition in the Virginia Department of Aviation report dated October 2015. The existing pavement surface shows signs of oxidation and typical aging.
A first reading is an introductory step required by City code before certain matters can be voted upon by City Council. This step serves to provide public notice of pending action. Council could not vote on the ordinance last night. The earliest vote that can take place will be the Dec. 5 City Council meeting.
During the open communications segment of City Council’s business session, Renita Townes of Danville asked City Council to change the ordinance that requires the person or group applying to name a building after someone to raise the money associated with the placement, design and construction of a monument or sign to honor an individual. The ordinance has been in place since 2001.
Townes submitted an application to rename the main public library on Patton Street in honor of the late Ruby Archie. A former mayor, Archie taught English in Danville Public Schools for 37 years at Langston and George Washington high schools before retiring in 1993. She also served on City Council from 1994-2010.
The Danville City Council Memorial Commission last week supported the renaming of the main library on Patton Street as the Ruby B. Archie Memorial Danville Public Library. City staff are in the process of determining the cost of the new signage. The name change will require approval of the River District Design Commission and City Council.
Council's meeting included a business session followed by a work session. In work sessions, Council reviews non-routine matters that may be voted upon in future business meetings.
During last night’s work session, reviewed the latest monthly financial reports and scheduled a vote for its Dec. 5 meeting on a grant application to expand bus service to Halifax and Pittsylvania counties.
River City TV airs live all Council business sessions. The first rebroadcast will be at 8 p.m. Thursday. Watch it on cable (Comcast channel 10 and Gamewood channel 122). The taped broadcast is available now on River City TV’s Facebook page.
River City TV does not air work sessions, but they are open to the public.